Railholiday triumphs at Tourism Awards

Railholiday was crowned winner of winners at last night’s Cornwall Tourism Awards.

Now in their 17th year, the awards saw 80 awards presented across 26 different categories, with new ones this year for Tourism Innovation and New Businesses.

It was the first time the awards had been held in Truro Cathedral, with a record number of 398 guests attending.

St Germans-based self-catering railway carriage holiday company Railholiday claimed the top prize alongside three further trophies, while the new Tourism Innovation and New Business Golds were shared between the Cohort Hostel and Cornish Wine Tours.

Winner of Winners, Railholiday

Awards organiser Robin Barker welcomed all winners: “I’d like to congratulate you for having the courage to have a go and put yourself through what is recognised as the country’s most rigorous tourism awards judging process,” he said.

Head of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell, added: “The awards shine the spotlight of excellence on some of our best and leading tourism operators in Cornwall. It is this excellence that makes Cornwall one of, if not the leading, UK holiday regions. It celebrates not only the businesses but also the team work from staff, Managers and owners as only team work can deliver excellence.”

Food and Drink Golds went to The Cornish Vegan café, The Pandora Inn and The Fish House. The Self Catering Gold went to Carn Mar, whilst Attraction Golds went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Telegraph Museum, Porthcurno. Rick Stein’s Cookery School took Gold for Learning Experience with Select South West Tours and Bude Canoe Experience sharing joint Gold for Guided Tour.

Gold for the new Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism category went to Railholiday, while Lappa Valley Steam Railway took Gold for Accessibility and Inclusivity and Treworgey took Gold for Dog Friendly. The Tourism Event and Festival Gold went to Boardmasters, with a special community award going to Looe Saves the Day. Bodmin Visitor Information Centre showed their class once more, taking Gold for Visitor Information. Gold in the popular Wildllife Friendly category was taken by Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing.

Successful businesses in the Cornwall Awards will be fast tracked into matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2019, to be held for the first time under Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.

Editorial director Nick Eyriey is an experienced and respected journalist having spent some 20 years in the local and national press working with newspapers such as The Yorkshire Post, Today, The Sun, and the Mail on Sunday.